Mental Health Resources

Mental Health Story Project

Personal stories, poems, and visual art can communicate grace and truth about mental illness. Walk a few steps in other peoples' shoes through their stories.

Mental Health Ministry Resources

Let's Talk! Breaking the Silence around Mental Illness in Our Communities of Faith, a new 4-part series for small groups produced by Disability Concerns and Faith and Hope Ministries, is now available for free download. This series was written so that anyone who has skill in facilitating a small group discussion can lead it. An extensive Leader Guide helps those leading by giving important background information. (You will be redirected to a Google Form and asked for some basic information before you receive the links for the download.)

Mental Health Ministry: A Toolkit for Congregations. This free, 43-page resource equips communities of faith to share the journey of healing & recovery with individuals & their families facing serious mental illness, addictions, & trauma. Produced by Pathways to Promise, of which the Christian Reformed Church is a member denomination.

Worship

Sermon on Psalm 88
In this message, Rev. Cindy Holtrop reflects on her own season of depression and God's presence with us in our dark times. She concludes with practical ideas for ministering with people who have mental illnesses.

Sermon on Mental Illness
In this message, Rev. Greg Sinclair says that as God comforts people who suffer from mental illnesses, so the Christian community needs to give comfort to people dealing with mental illnesses.

Sample litanies and additional sermons can be found on our Worship Resources page.

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has resources on worship and people with disabilities.

Ideas for Disability Week

This collection of ideas for raising awareness about mental illnesses was adapted from Faithnet NAMI.

This brief list of ideas for building relationships with people with mental illnesses comes from Disability Concern's Handbook for Disability Advocates. and can be used in various ways such as a bulletin insert, newsletter article, or read from the pulpit.

Disability Concern's quarterly newsletter, Breaking Barriers, has published many stories over the years by and about people living with mental illnesses. Please feel free to tell and retell these stories in settings within your own church.

Newsletter insert: "Sunshine from Darkness" was produced by Pathways to Promise and Disability Concerns. This one-page insert is available in two versions which list United States and Canadian resources.

Distribute an "open letter" to the congregation from someone with mental illness.

Pastoral Care

Mental Illness - How The Church Can Help
By Deb Niehof, Iowa

Healthy Churches and Mental Illness
By Mark Stephenson

Faith and Hope Ministries Equips Churches
By June Zwier

Light for a Dark Path
by Tony Meyer (published in the May 2009 issue of The Banner) This article also received a response from a Banner reader.

A Compassionate Journey: Coming Alongside People with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses
By John G. Cook | $6.49 | Available from Faith Alive Christian Resources.
A Compassionate Journey guides readers in the practice of compassion and provides a helpful perspective on caring in the face of long-term need. That makes this book ideal for study by church councils, care teams, adult education groups, and individuals who want to learn how to show care to people with long-term needs.

Suggested Online Resources

This list includes organizations that give training, ideas, and assistance for people with mental illness and caregivers.